Labeling-machine.



J. C. LARSEN.

LABELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED lULY 19, 1916.

Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1- J. C. LARSEN.

LABELINGMACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY \9. I916.

Patented De0.10 1918.

4 SHEETS- SHEET 2.

J. C. LARSEN.

LABELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION mm) JULY 19. I916.

Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- a 6 y e 9M 3 6 4 7 5 .4 7 2/ H 7 u F M M Z 6 3 I 7 e a in. non-u nuns co. rnmunm. wulurmvon. n. c.

J. C. LARSEN.

LABELING MACHINE. APPLICATION men JULY 19. 1916.

1,287,352.. Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

JOHN C. LARSEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

OFFICE.

LABELING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec.10,1 918.

" Applicationfiled J'u1y19, 1916. Serial No. 110,192. V

Z '0 all whom, it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, JOHN C. LARSEN, a

citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chi-- cago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new an'dusefullmprovenients in Labeling-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a labeling. machine, and more particularly to the class of can labeling machines.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a machine of this character wherein cans or the like are fed thereto and the same will be automatically labeled, the labels being pasted to the bodies of the cans or the like in successive order prior to the delivery thereof from the machine, the labels being applied smoothly and uniformly to the cans or the like while the machine is in operation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a labeling machine of this. char.- acter wherein the label holder orbox is of novel construction to assure the positive and successful feeding of the labels to a position to be taken up by the cans or the like bodies which are positively fed through the ma chine, the cans or the like being automatically turned for the pasting of the label on four sides of the can or the like during conveyance thereof for the adhering of such labels thereto.

- A further object of the invention is the provision of a labeling machine of this character wherein the construction thereof is .novel in form and coversv improvements in the construction forming the subject mat ter of Letters Patent No. 1,134,876, issuedto me on or about the 6th day of April, 1915.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a machine of this character which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and efficient in operation, enabling cans or the like to be labeled with despatch, and inexpensive in manufacture. I

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of'elements and arrangement of parts exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claimshereunto appended.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine tion F g. 2 isa top plan view-thereof; F 1g.'3 lsan end elevation;

Fig; 4 is a view similar'to Fig. 3, looking toward. the opposite end of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the machine;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 ofFig. 1; r

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1; V

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line8-8 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a detail side view ofa portion of the machine showing the'label holder swung to and supported in its initial or normal position.

Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view show ing one of the cans engaged by the tool 71, the latter acting on the lip 70 of the ripping strip of the an. e V Fig. 11 is a detail viewin elevation of one of the clamping heads and the spindle of the same showing also in section the hearing for the spindle and one of the tripping wheels.

Fig. 12 is a sectional detail view taken on the line 12-12 in Fig. 11.

Similar reference characters indicate correspondingparts throughout the several views of the drawings,

Referring to the drawings in detail, the:

labeling machine comprises a supporting frame A, which is of the required length and width, having supporting legs Bat op'-- posite ends thereof, and upon this fr'anie'are supported the upper and lower spaced 1ongituclinally disposed guide rails C and D respectively, which form a runway E therebetween for the cans or the like to be labeled, the upper rails Obeing separated from the lower rails D to provide opposedslots F for a purpose presently described. Fixed to and rising from the guide rails '1 is a feed chute G for occo-nimodatingcans or the like to be fed in the runway E at the'head end of the machine, and upon one side of the said chute G is, a slide gate 10 which controls the feed of the cans orthe like from the chute to the runway and is supported upon an adjustable screw 11 which regulates the extent of open position of the gate 10, and surrounding this screw is. a coiled expansion spring 12 which has one end bearconstructed in accordance withthe invening against the bracket 13 carrying the screw 11, while the opposite end works against an ear 14 formed on the gate 10 so that the said gate is resiliently supported. Without the runway E and extending longitudinally with the lower guide rails D be low the slots F are horizontally disposed beds or platforms'15, the same being sup ported upon the frame A, while beneath the platforms 15 at Opposite ends thereof are gear housings 16 in which are journaled vertically disposed shafts 17 which extend upwardly through the tables or platforms 15 and have fixed thereto at their upper ends sprocket wheels 18, about which are trained endless conveyer sprocket chains 19, while fixed to the pair of shafts 17 at the feed end of the machine within the housing 16 are beveled gears 20, with which mesh beveled inions 21 fixed to opposite ends of a horizontally disposed driven shaft 22 journaled in the lower guide rails D, and upon this shaft 22 is fixed a sprocket wheel 23, over which is trained an endless sprocket chain 24, the same being also trained over a sprocket wheel 25 fixed to a counter-driving shaft 26 fixed in bearings 27 depending from the frame A. The shaft 26 has fixed thereto a second sprocket wheel 28, over which is trained an endless chain 29 which is also trained over a sprocket wheel 30 fixed to the driving shaft 31 of a motor 32, which, in this instance, is of the electric type, although it may be of any'other type for the driving of the conveyer chains 19 for advancing the cans or the like over the chute G in a manner presently described.

Formed on the conveyer chains 19, on certain links thereof, are spaced brackets 33 having terminal sleeves in which are journaled pintles 34, each carrying a trip wheel 36, while at the outer end is a clamping head 37 provided with a leaf spring 38. which serves to frictionally engage a can or the like fed'over the chute G, it bein uuderstood, of course, that the heads 37 operate in pairsto grip opposite ends of the can when admitted to the runway E. The heads in pairs move between the guide rails (I and D in the runway E and the pintles 34 supporting the same travel through the slots F between the upper and lower guide rails for the advancing of the cans in successive order from the chute G to the de livery end of the machine.

Suitably supported upon the frame A. spaced a slight distance from the chute G, is a reservoir 39 containing glue, which latter is taken up through the medium of a roller 40 which is suitably journaled in the reservoir 39 and applies the glue to one side of the can or the like when conveyed through the runway E so that the label will be subsequently taken up by the can or the like during its course of movement in a manner presently described.

Formed on and depending from the lower guide rails D are hangers 41 which are located spaced from the reservoir 39 and between which and pivoted thereto is a swinging label holder or box 42 which has arranged therein a follower 43 acted upon by a coiled compression spring 44 surrounding the guide stems 45 of the follower 43, and slidable through one side of the box, the follower being designed to feed the labels 46 contained within the holder or box 42 in the direction of the delivery side thereof. Mounted on opposite ends of the holder or box 42 are resiliently supported label clamps 47 which serve to hold the outermost label smooth and permit the taking up thereof by the can or the like when conveyed through the runway E of the machine. Contiguous to the hangers 41 and depending from the lower guide rails D are additional hangers 48, in which is mounted the pivot 49 supporting a trip latch 50 which normally engages with the label holder or box 42 to hold the same normally in horizontal position out of the path of the runway E, the latch 50 being protruded into the said runway E to be acted upon by a can or the like conveyed thereto so as to automatically trip the label holder or box 42 to bring the same into a position for the application of a label therefrom'to the can during its conveyance through the runway. Located at one side of the frame A and above the plane of the table or platform 15 is a paste reservoir 51 in which is contained paste and from which extends a supply pipe 52, the same being extended inwardly to a point adjacent to the delivery side of the label holder or box 42, and is formed with a discharge head 53 which deposits paste upon the outermost label 46 of the stack within the holder or box 42, the latter also being fitted with a brush 54 which distributes the paste upon the said label when being extracted or taken up by the can or the like conveyed through the runway E of the machine. The label holder or box 42 is suitably mounted for lateral adjustment of the machine so as to permit the label therein to be properly applied to the cans or the like with uniformity.

Supported in suitable bearings 55 arranged in spaced relation to each other and formed on the frame A and the lower guide rails D at predetermined intervals throughout the delivery end portion of the machine are label applying rollers 56 which serve to press the labels on to the bodies of the cans or the like when conveyed in the direction of the delivery end of the machine.

Formed on the inner faces of the upper guide rails C are shallow and deep cams 57 and 58 respectively, the said cams 58 being designed to hold the cans or the like in horizontal position and against turning action when traveling throughout the length of said cams, while the cams 57 serve to hold the cans in vertical position during the travel thereofthroughout the length thereof, these cams 57 and 58 being spaced apart so that the cans or the like can be readily turned bodily during the conveyance thereof in the runway in a manner presently described.

Secured to and rising from the tables or platforms 15 contiguous to the outer sides of the guide rails C and D are substantially U-shaped inverted hanger bars 59, between which are adjustably mounted depending trip pins 60 which are adjustably engaged between the bars through the medium of companion bolts and nuts 61, and these pins 60 engage the trip wheels 36 so as to turn the heads 37 for the rotating of the can or the like carried thereby prior to the engagement of the heads 37 with the cams 5 7 and 58 respectively, which hold the heads against rotation or turning movement.

Arranged within the chute G at opposed sides thereof are spring guides 62, Fig. 7, which serve to center the cans, leaving the chute for entrance to the runway E sas 'to be positioned between and engaged by the heads 37 for the conveyance of the cans in successive order through the runway during the operation of the machine. C011 nected with a pair of the vertical shafts 17 are suitable chain tightening devices 63 which serve to tighten the conveyer chains 19 about the sprocket wheels 18 when the occasion requires.

Mounted on the outer faces of the upper guide rails C in the path of the spur trip wheels '36, contiguous to the point of location of the glue reservoir 39, are trip lugs 64 which serve to act upon the trip Wheels 36 for the turning of the heads 53 for receiving a can or the/like from the chute G prior to the engagement of the heads 37 with the innermost cams 57 so that the cans will be given a quarter turn after the application of glue to a portion of the side wall thereof for the presentation of the glued portion of the can to the delivery sideof the label holder or box 42 so that the outermost label will be taken up by the can and as the latter advances the pins 60 operate 'upon the trip wheels 36 for the further turning of the cans in successive order for the wrapping of the labels about the same, while the rollers 56 operate upon' the labels to press the same against the bodies of the cans or the like for the adhering of the said labels thereto, it being understood, of course, that the paste is applied to the labels prior to the pressure of the rollers 56 thereon during the advance movement of the said cans or the like through the machine. 7

It will be apparent that by reason of the pivotal mounting of the label holder or box '42 the cans conveyedthrough the runway E will trip the said. holder or box and a wiping action will be had by the label against 7 the portion of the can having applied thereto glue from the glue reservoir 39 so that the labels will be taken up by the cans and subsequently the turning of the latter will effeet the wrapping of the labels about the same. The paste applied to the labels will cause the same to adhere to the bodies of the cans when acted upon by the rollers 56 prior to the delivery of the can from the machine at the delivery end thereof.

In the operation of the machine, the cans delivered from the chute G are carried by the heads 37 through the runway E throughout the full length of the machine. Initially, the cans are turned by the lugs 64 engaging the trip wheels 36 for the application of glue to the cans by the rollers 40 from the reservoir 39. The cans then pass the label holder or box 42, which has been previously released by the latch 50 acted upon by the cans, so that the label holder is in a position for delivering the labels, and the contact of the glued portion of the can, engaging the outermost label, causes the same to adhere to the said can and to be withdrawn in the travel of the can from the label holder. At the same time it will be seen that by contact with the can the label holder will be restored to its initial inclined position where it will be supported by the pivoted latch member 50. In the movement of the label in eflect vertically from the, label holder, the outer, or, more properly, the rear face of the label. in riding over the paste brush 54, receives a quantity of paste which is discharged thereon as the label is drawn up from the holder. The can continues its travel and the label is forced into contact with the can bythe successive action of the rollers 56, the can, through the medium of the trip pins 60, being successively turned to present a fresh portion of the label to each successive roller. The travel of the cans and the action of the rollers 56 upon the label is sufficient to cause the label to be smoothly applied to the can throughout the full length of the said label.

The present type of machine is designed for use with cans having angularly related sides or cans of rectangular cross section, although it is to be understoodthat it will be clearly effective with round cans, except that in the use of such cans it is not necessary to turn the can to apply the glue thereto. 120 The rollers 40 are positioned in spaced relation to each other so as to apply the glue in strip form to the cans.

The supply pipe 52 from the paste reservoir 51 may be provided with any convenient 125 means of well known construction whereby the supply of paste to the labels will be regulated. Depending from the frame A is an arm 66, on which is carried a spring stop 7 67 which engages the label holder or box 42 130 l'lO til)

to bring the same to rest in a vertical position for the successive delivery of labels therefrom to the can conveyed through the runway E of the machine. Normally, the label holder or box 42 is held in a horizontal position, and it is released from this position by the trip latch 50 when engaged by a can passing through the runway.

The heads 36 for gripping the cans from the chute G glide over the tables or platforms 15 prior to the entrance thereof to the runway E as will be clearly apparent, the ends of the guide rails C and D being outwardly curved, as at 68, at the feed end of the machine for permitting the entrance of the heads 37 to the runway. The label holderor box 42 is of curvilinear shape so as to contain correspondingly shaped labels, and these shaped labels are employed for the reason that the cans H are of rectangular tapered contour, as is shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings, thereby permitting said labels to fit accurately upon said cans. Each can is formed in its body with a ripping strip 69 which has a lip 70 which is normally close to one side wall of the can, while mounted on the feed chut'e G is a tool 71 which is adapted to act upon the lip 70 when a can drops from the chute into the runway so as to bend the lip 70 outwardly away from the side of the can, whereby it will be exposed without the label for the application thereof to the can. This lip is not interfered with as it traverses the runway until after passing one of the rollers 56 which is formed with a channel or groove 72 for accommodating the lip 70, whereby it will be punctured through the label on the application thereof to the side where the lip 70 is located and thereafter the lip is acted upon by the subsequent rollers 56 to bend it against the side of the can prior to the delivery of the can from the machine.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the machine will be readily apparent, and a more extended explanation has therefore been omitted.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a machine of the class described, a support forming a runway longitudinally therethrough, a label holder arranged swingingly in said support to project into the runway in the path of cans passing therethrough, a chute for delivering receptacles to the runway, conveyer means movable through the runway, receptacle clamping members carried by the conveyer means, an adhesive container, means to'supply adhesive from the container to each receptacle in advance of the label holder, and means for supplying paste to the labels when being removed from the holder.

2. In a machine of the class described, a support forming a runway longitudinally therethrough, a label holder arranged swinge ingly in said support to project into the runway in the path of cans passing therethrough, a chute for delivering receptacles to the runway, conveyer means movable through the runway, receptacle clamping members carried by the conveyer means, an adhesive ontainer, means to supply adhesive from the container to each receptacle in advance of the label holder, means for supplying paste to the labels when being removed from the holder, and means for tripping the clamping members after the receptacles carried thereby have received their labels for the turning of said receptacles.

3. In a machine of the class described, a support forming a runway longitudinally therethrough, a label holder arranged swingingly in said support to project into the runway in the path of cans passing therethrough, a chute for delivering receptacles to the runway, conveyer means movable through the runway, receptacle clamping members carried by the conveyer means, an adhesive container, means to supply adhesive from the container to each receptacle in advance of the label holder, means for supplying paste to the labels when being removed from the holder, means for tripping the clamping members after the receptacles carried thereby have received their labels for the turning of said receptacles, and presser rolls arranged to act upon the receptacles after each turning thereof.

a. In a machine of the class described, a support forming a runway longitudinally therethrough, a label holder arranged swingingly in said support to project into the runway in the path of cans passing therethrough, a chute for delivering receptacles to the runway, conveyer means movable through the runway, receptacle clamping members carried by the conveyer means, an adhesive container, means to supply adhesive from the container to each receptacle in advance of the label holder, means for supplying paste to the labels when being removed from the holder, means for tripping 11.5 the clamping members after the receptacles carried thereby have received their labels for the turning of said receptacles, presser rolls arranged to act upon the receptacles after each turning thereof, and means for driving the conveyer means.

In a machine of the class described, a support forming a runway longitudinally therethrough, a label holder arranged swingingly in said support to project into the runway in the path of cans passing therethrough, a chute for delivering receptacles to the runway, conveyer means movable through the runway, receptacle clamping members carried by the conveyer means, an

near-cs2 adhesive container, means to supply adhesive from the container to each receptacle in advance of the label holder, means for supplying paste to the labels when being removed from the holder, means for tripping the clamping members after the receptacles carried thereby have received their labels for the turning of said receptacles, presser rolls arranged to act upon the receptacles after each turning thereof, means for driving the conveyer means, and means for permitting adjustment of the tripping means. i

6. In a machine of the class described, a support forming a runway longitudinally therethrough, a label holder arranged swingingly in said support to project into, the runway in the path of cans passing therethrough, a chute for delivering receptacles to the runway, conveyer means movable through the runway, receptacle clamping members carried by the conveyer means, an adhesive container, means to supply adhesive from the container to each receptacle in advance of the label holder, means-for supplying paste to the labels when being removed from the holder, means for tripping the clamping members after the receptacles carried thereby have received their labels for the turning of said receptacles, presser rolls arranged to act upon the receptacles after each turning thereof, means for driving the conveyer means, means for permitting adjustment of the tripping means, and cams in the runway to guide the receptacles after the turning thereof.

7 In a machine of the class described, a support forming a runway longitudinally therethrough, a label holder arranged in said support to project into the runway, a chute for delivering. receptacles to the runway,

conveyer means movable through the run way, receptacle clamping members carried by the conveyer means, an adhesive container, means to supply adhesive from the container to each receptacle in advance of the label holder, means for supplying paste to the labels when being removed from the holder, means for tripping the clamping members after the receptacles carried thereby have received their labels for the turning of said receptacles, presser rolls arranged to act upon the receptacles after each turning thereof, means for driving the conveyer means, means for permitting adjustment of the tripping means, cams in the runway to guide the receptacles after the turning thereof, and means for sustaining the label holder in inactive position and automatically controlled by the receptacle when traveling in the runway for the release of said means.

8. In a machine of the class described, a

support forming a runway longitudinallytherethrough, a label holder arranged in said support to project into the runway, a chute for delivering receptacles to the runway,

conveyer means movable through the runway, receptacle clamping members carried bv the conveyer means, an adhesive container, means to supply adhesive from the container to-cach receptacle in advance of the label holder, means for supplying the paste to the labels when being removed from the holder, means for tripping the clamping members after the receptacles carried thereby have received their labels for the turning of said receptacles, presser rolls arranged to act upon the receptacles after each turning thereof, means for driving the conveyer means, means for permitting adjustment of the tripping means, cams in the runway to guide the receptacles after the turning thereof, means for sustaining the label holder in inactive position and automatically controlled by the receptacle when traveling in the runway for the release of said means, and an adjustable gate for the chute to regulate the communication thereof with therunway.

9. In a machine of the class described, a support forming a runway longitudinally therethrough, a label holder arranged in said support to project into the runway, a chute for delivering receptacles to the runway, conveyer means movable through the runway, receptacle clamping members carried by the conveyer means, an adhesive container, means to supply adhesive from the container to each receptacle in advance of the label holder, means for supplying paste to the labels when being removed from the holder, means for tripping the clamping members after the receptacles carried thereby have received their labels for the turning of said receptacles, presser rolls arranged to act upon the receptacles after each turning thereof, means for driving the conveyer means, means for permitting adjustment of the tripping means, cams in the runway to guide the receptacles after the turning thereof, means for sustaining the label holder in inactive position and automatically controlled by the receptacle when traveling in the runway for the release of said means, an adjustable gate for the chute to regulate the communication thereof with the runway, and tables for said clamping members when traveling without the runway.

10. In a machine of the class described, a runway, means for carrying cans longitudinally along the runway and a swingingly supported label holder having its delivery end projecting in the path of the cans passing along the runway; and a latch whereby the label holder may be supported in an inclined approximately horizontal position.

11. In a machine of the class described, a runway, means for carrying cans longitudinally along the runway and a swingingly supported label holder having its delivery end projecting in the path of the cans passing along the runway; and a latch whereby the label holder may be supported in an inclined, approximately horizontal position, said latch also projecting in the runway in the path of passing cans to be thereby actuated to release the label holder.

12. In a machine of the class described, a runway, means for carrying cans along the same, a swingingly supported label holder,

the delivery end of which will project within the runway when the holder gravitationally assumes an upright position, a latch member whereby the label holder may be supported in an approximately horizontal position with its delivery end retracted from the runway, said latch member projecting within the runway to be actuated by passing cans and means for applying adhesive to a portion of the side wall of each can previous to tripping the latch member and releasing the label holder to an upright position.

13. In a machine of the class described, a runway, means for carrying cans along the same, a swingingly supported label holder, the delivery end of which will project within the runway when the holder gravitationally assumes an upright position, a latch member whereby the label holder may be supported in an approximately horizontal position with its delivery end retracted from the runway, said latch member projecting within the runway to be actuated by passing cans and means for applying adhesive to a portion of the side Wall of each can previous to tripping the latch member and releasing the label holder to an upright position; in combination with means for applying paste to the surface of each label with drawn from the label holder by the action of a passing can to which such label is caused to adhere.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in resence of two witnesses.

JOHN C. LARSEN.

Witnesses:

JOHN K. MoQUARnrE, DENNIS W. HAYES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

